Printing and punching machine



Feb. 6,1940. F. L. FULLER 3 PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet} 1 FIG; 1,

INVENTOR ATTC'DRNEY Miami Feb. 6, 1940. F. L. FULLER 2,189,027

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed June 3, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR awf A'l'TORNEY Feb. '6, 1940. FULLER 2,189,027

Filed June 5, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE INVENTOR A MM ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1940. F. L. FULLER 2,189,027

' PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1938 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 X "way;

' A'TTORNEY Feb. 6, 1940. F. FULLER PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed June 3, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 6, 1940. F. FULLER PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 III INVENTOR f aq/w ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1940. 1 FULLER 2,189,027

PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed June 3, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 12.

WAX

ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1940. F. FULLER PRINTING AND PUNCHING MACHINE- Filed June 3, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. 16.

/{W/IZW ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING AND PUNC'HING MACHINE York Application June 3, 1938, Serial No. 211,539 10 claims. (01. 101-19) This invention relates to a machine for working upon a continuous strip so as to manufacture merchandise representing tags which are printed and punched by the machine.

'5 Such tags are utilized for stock control and are punched with perforations to represent the price and the article number and are also printed so that such numbers can also be read.

Incidental operations by the machine com- 10 prise printing of legends to indicate the meaning of the data, scoring the sheet so as to produce a main tag section and a stub, punching a hole in the latter so as to make it capable of being attached to the merchandise by a string, and 15 notching an edge of the main tag section so as to insure that the perforated main tag sections are properly placed in the statistical or tabulating machine for auditing operations. When an article is sold, the perforated main tag section is removed and from these lists can be made of the articles sold and the total of the sales. By sorting the perforated tags according to article numbers the machine can count the number of tags and hence indicate the number of articles 25 of the same class which are sold.

The main object of the present invention is to I to be effected on the stub, and a severing mechanism, and to cause said mechanisms to be 35 operatively correlated and driven so that they operate upon successive portions of a strip .dur-

ing one cycle of machine. operation, and hence by successively operating on the same portion of a strip it is worked upon so as to produce a com- 40 plete tag.

In connection with the data printing and punching mechanism 'it is an object of the invention to provide means for pre-setting the data which is to be printed and punched, such 45 means comprising manually set slides carrying a plurality of number printing type bars and a single punch pin. By manually setting each of these slides the punch pin may be set to a differential position so as to punch at a particular 50 index point position of the correlated column.

The manual positioning of each slide also co'rrelates a selected number of printing type with a printing hammer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a means by means of which the slides are alined and locked in their set position and which positions camiot be changed during an operation of the machine. This is effected by providing an aligning bail which may be unlocked by the rocking of a manually operated 5 lever so as to permit the free manual positioning of the punch and printing slides. The aforementioned lever is also capable of being rotated so as to retain the aligning bail in locked position and, in addition, causes the operation of a clamping means so as to securely clamp the punch and printing slides together. This lever, in its rotated position. causes the operation of the clamping means and concomitantly, the closing of electrical contacts which are in the motor circuit.

The scoring, piercing, and notching mechanism is independently operated and carries three different tools, one of which is a piercing pin for piercing a hole in the tag; a scoring tool which effects the scoring of a line for the detachment of the main portion of the tag from the stub section; and a supplemental tool for notching the corner of the main tag section.

Another main section of the machine com- 26 prises a mechanism for effecting the printing of legends upon both the stub and main sections of the tag so as to identify the data printed and punched thereon. This printing mechanism comprises an electro which is rotated during 80 the operation of the machine so as to print and, in addition, causes the lengthwise feeding of the paper strip being operated upon.

The machine also includes a mechanism for offsetting the paper strip so that in the successive printing operation determined bythe printing and punching slides previously mentioned the second imprint will be efiected upon the stub section of the tag. This offsetting mechanism comprises a plurality of clamps for engaging the 40 strip so as to cause the offset movement of the paper strip at widely separated points thereof.

In connection with the feeding of the paper strip for predetermined lengths which comprise substantially the length of a merchandise tag, it is an object of the machine to cause the feeding of the paper strip by the electro printing and feeding mechanism to an extent substantially greater thanthe length of a merchandise tag. The machine also includes a pilot pin which is adapted to enter the hole pierced in the strip so that at the termination of the lengthwise feeding of the strip a spring will act upon the pilot pin now engaging the pierced hole and reversely shift the pilot pin so as to draw it back a prein connection with the successive tags manu factured by. the machine is the provision of a countingmechanism which counts and determines the' number of tags which are to be manufactured. The reason for this is that upon receiving in stock a number of articles to be sold a merchandise tag is, of course, to be made for each of these articles. The machine includes a mechanism which is set by the operator so as to cause the machine to make a tag for each article which is to be sold. This mechanism includes a part which is set by the operator so that when the number of tags have been made, the part is effective to cause the machine to be automatically stopped.

It is a still further and important object of, the present invention to provide a mechanism for automatically unrolling the paper strip from the supply roll. It is common practice to provide the paper strip in rolls of large diameter so that it is not practical to effect the unwinding directly from the roll by the feeding mechanism within the machine. The mechanism now under discussion includes rollers which engage the periphery of the supply roll and rotate the latter a predetermined extent for each machine operation, thus effecting a slack which is taken up by the feeding mechanism in the machine, thus diminishing' the load upon the latter and preventing breakage of the paper strip.

A still further object of the invention in connection with the aforesaid mechanism is to provide means to control the extent of unwinding of the paper strip so that too much slack, which cannot be taken up by the machine, will not be produced.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings whether within'or Without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specificstaternents as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

The machine which is now to be described in detail, by reason of the various mechanisms and improvements incorporated therein, is capable of working efiiciently at high operating speeds and of manufacturing a number of tags which are precisely the same in matter of data designated thereon and also the incidental operations made in connection therewith. The mechanisms hereinbefore referred to and parts thereof have been designed from the viewpoint of simplicity, manufacture, and service, and are capable of sustained operations for long periods of time without servicing requirements.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the machine embodying the present invention and shows the various mechanisms for successively operating upon a portion of a paper strip so as. to print. punch, sever and form a number of tags.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, but shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the machine and is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the machine and is taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the devices provided to effect an offset of the paper strip.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2 and shows particularly the mechanism provided to pierce, score and 'notch the paper strip..

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 2 and shows in detail the mechanism which is pre-set by the operator so as to predetermine the number of tags to be manufactured.

Fig. 10 is a detail view showing in plan some of the parts shown in Fig. 9 to more clearly show their relationship.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the manually operated device for releasing the aligning bar for the punch operating slides for free manual setting thereof; and also for clamping the punch slides and holding the aligning bar in aligning relationship with the punch slides when the latter have been set and the machine is ready for operation.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the machine and is taken on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 2, and shows particularly the severing mechanism for cutting the continuous paper strip into separate printing and punching merchandise tags.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of an adjusting mechanism for predetermining the extent of the lengthwise feeding of the paper strip.

Fig. 14 is a plan view showing one of the merchandise tags capable of being manufactured by the present machine.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the mechanism provided to cause the paper strip to be unwound from the paper roll and to control the extent of paper feed.

Flg. 16 is a detail view in side elevation and is taken on the line lS-lfiof Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a detail view of certain parts of the mechanism shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

Driving mechanism The motive power for the machine is derived from an electrical motor l0 (Figs. 1 and 2). The motor is set in operation by the closure of a switch If (Fig. 9) which closes the circuit to the motor and in the circuit are contacts l2 (Fig. 6) to be hereinafter referred to and which are closed under certain conditions.

The motor I0 drives a shaft l3 (Fig. 1) by a. belt connection l4 and said shaft carries a worm wheel l5 (Fig. 4) meshing with a worm gear [6 secured to a drive shaft 11. The shaft l7 carries a gear l8 (dotted lines in Fig. 4) meshing with a gear I9 secured to a drive shaft 28. The above described driVe and gear connections are also shown in Fig. 3, and in this figure is also clearly shown the two line drive shafts I? and 20.

Punching and printing mechanism The strip which is to be worked upon by the machine is unwound from a supply roll 2| (Fig. 1) and the strip 22 is first fed through the various operating mechanisms of the machine one ,of which is a punching mechanism for punching pre-set data on the tag shown in Fig. 14. The punched holes are indicated by numeral 23. The printing mechanism is adapted to print two lines of printed data indicated by numerals 241 and 242 and this data is an interpretation of the meaning of the holes punched.

The printing and punching mechanism is generally designated by numeral 25 in Figs. 1, 2, 3. and 6.

The data to be printed and punched is pre-set by a series of combination punch pin and type carrying slides 21. Each slide consists, as best shown in Fig. 6, of a central plate 28 and two side plates 29 and 30. The central plate 28 carries a single punch pin 3| and is apertured to form a die hole 32. The side plates 29 and 39 confine the punch pin 3|. ries a series of spring pressed type bars 33 and are also confined in position by the side plates 29 and 39. Beneath the type bars 33 is a rubber platen and the strip to be printed and punched passes between the type bars and platen and under the punch pin 3|, and for this reason the slides are provided with a central slit 35 and an aperture 36 to receive the strip.

The slides 21 are slidably guided in the machine and may be manually set to different positions to record and punch pre-set data so that the punch pin 3| is positioned transversely of the strip so as to designate by the location of the hole the digit, according to the Hollerith code for designating digits.

By the same positioning the selected type bar is in position beneath a hammer 31 so as to print on the tag the digit represented by the hole.

All of the slides 21 are set before the machine and are in operation so that a number of tags 'may be printed and' punched with the same data.

When set the operation of the punching machine will punch and print by the following described means.

The punching mechanism comprises two side arms 39 pivoted on a rod 39 and have connected thereto a cross plate 40 and apunch operating plate 4|. It also carries guide bars 42 spaced by spacer bars 43 from the punch operating plate 4| and between the guide bars the punch pins 3| project and a pin 44 carried thereby rests upon the guide .bars to hold. the .punch pin 3| in position. a

The arms 33 also carrya rod 45 and links 46 connect the; arms 33 with a pair of arms 41 pivoted on a rod 43. The arms 41 carry a roller 59 (see Fig. 3) engaging two pairs of complementary cams 5| and 52 attached to the drive shafts l1 and 29.

Obviously at the beginning of themachine operation the cams 5| and 52 will rock the arms 41 depressing links 43 and rocking the arms 33 downwardly to cause the operating plate 4| to depressthe punch pins 3| and force them through the strip and into the die holes 32. This, of course, is effected irrespective of the differential positions of the slides 21. The guide bars 42 in cooperation'with pins 44 positively retract the punch pins 3|.

The selected type bars 33 are depressed by hammers 31 to force the typeagainst an inking ribbon 53 positioned underthe type but over the strip. The'hammers 31 are loosely mounted on a rod 54 and have hooked portions 55 engaging The central plate 29 also cara lip 55 of a frame 51 loosely pivoted on the rod 39.

To the frame 51 are pivoted a pair of links 53 (Fig. 7) connected to arms 59 also loosely pivoted on the rod 49. i 5

The arms 59 are connected by a bolt 49 and carry a roller 60 cooperating with profile cams 5| and 62 carried by] shafts l1 and 20, respectively.

The cams 6| and 62 have two sets of operating projections and concurrently with the operation 10 of the punching mechanism the first set of operating projections will depress the frame 51 and cause hammers 31 to print. Thereafter the punch operating frame is idle, by reason of concentric portions 63 of the cams 5| and 52 but the second set of operating projections of cams GI and 52 is effective at this time to cause a second imprint, but adjacent the first imprint by reason of a slight offset feed given to the strip by means now to be described.

It is pointed out that numeral 241 indicates in Fig. 14 the first imprint effected during the punching operation and numeral 242 the second imprint effected while the punching mechanismis idle.

Clamping means for paper strip It is desirable to hold the paper strip during the time it is worked upon and this is effected by the following means:

A bracket is formed of a cross plate 1| (Figs. 3 and 4) and two side arms 12 and 13 and carries at its lower end a rod 14. Supported by the rod 14 is a frame consisting of two side arms 16 and 11 and a cross piece 18 and said frame carries a rod 15. Loosely mounted on the rod 15 is a spring urged bail 19 carrying a rubber block 80. Attached to a side arm of the bail 19 is a depending arm 8| to which is attached a spring 82 connected to a stud carried by the side arm 16, the spring 92 urging the rubber block to clamp the strip 22 between the cross piece 18 and the rubber block 90.

It is desirable to release the aforesaid clamp so that the strip may be offset slightly so as to cause the second printing to be effected on the top line 242 of the tag. This is accomplished by having the lowerbent portion of arm 8| 'en-' gaged by a concentric cam strip 83 (Figs. 3 and 4) attached to the worm wheel l6. During the rota-'3 tion of the worm wheel IS the arm 3| will be rocked to ball 19 and separate the rubber block 90 from the cross piece 18vto release the strip'22. The arm 9| has a finger piece 34 by means of which the arm 9| may bemanually rocked to separate the rubber block from the crosspiece 19 to permit the unobstructed threading of the paper strip 22 in the machine when a new roll of paper strip is to be inserted.

Paper strip oflsetting means This will be seen by referring to Fig. 4 and comprises a fixed plate carrying guide studs 9| receiving slots of a shiftable offsetting plate" 92. The latter has two depending extensions 93 receiving the lengthwise edges of the strip 22. The plate 92 carries a pin 94 engaged by a shifter arm 95 secured toa-rock shaft 96. The above describes the offsetting means which is located near the paper clampand ,in Fig. 3 reference numeral 91 indicates a similar mechanism for engaging another portion of the strip for offsetting the same. The details are similar and are .shown in Fig. 5, and. thesole exception is that the guide pins 9| 'aregcarriedby. a frame 98.-

As best shown in Fig. 8'attached to the shaft" 95 is an arm 99 to which is connected a spring 76 I00 to rock the shaft 96 so that an arm IOI engages a profile cam I02 secured to the shaft I1.

After the paper clamp is released the cam I02 will rock the shaft 96 and thereby the two offsetting means just before the second print is effected. When the paper strip has been offset a re-print is effected and as previously stated, no punching will be effected at this time.

By the return springs I03 (Figs. 4 and 5) the plates 92 will be returned to their normal positions to reversely shift the paper strip for further operations thereon.

printing slides This is best shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 11 which should be referred to.

In a casing I05 (Fig. 4) a pivot rod I06 is journaled. A segment plate I01 (Fig. 11) is pivoted by a screw I08 to the rod I06 so that by means of a lever I09 and a knob H0 the plate I01 may be rocked about the screw I08 or the plate I01 may be rotated with the shaft I06 as a pivot.

A plate III has pivoted thereto by a stud II2 a bar II3 carrying an aligning bar II4 adapted. as shown in Fig. 6, to fit in aligning slots II5 of the .punch slides 21. The plate I01 carries an integral raised segment IIB upon which the aligning bar II4 rests. By rocking the knob IIO upwardly the plate I01 will be rocked so that the segment II6 will permit the bar II4 to be lowered and by moving out of the aligning slots II5 will release the punch slides for manual positionmg.

When the segment plate I01 is rocked as aforesaid a notch II1 formed in the plate I01 and segment II6 will be received by a stationary pin IIB thus preventing the rotation of the segment platev I01 as long as the aligning bar II4 has released the punch slides.

When the punched slides have been set the knob H0 is grasped and by the lever I09 the segment plate I01 is rotated and sufiiciently until a pin II9 carried thereby will contact with a bent-over ,portion I20 of a lever I2I rocking the latter about a stud I22 so as to close the contacts I2 and close the circuit to the motor at this point. It should be observed that the segment II6 will still maintain the aligning bar in elevated position so that the slides cannot be moved during an operation of the machine.

The bar II3 carries a plate I23, a ing I24 of which engages the pin II8 so as to providea stop for the aligning bar H4 in aligning position.

It is further desirable to clamp the punch slides 21 and to this end there is pivoted on a fixed stud I25 an arm I26. The latter has two integral extensions I21 (see Fig. 3) and each extension I21 is provided with a notch receiving a pin I28 carried by a clampl30, one side of the latter coacting with the outer punch slide 21. When the rod I06 is rocked by the lever I01 a concentric portion I3I of the rod I06 will rock the arm I26 and, therefore, force the clamps I30 to the right pressing the slides together and against a.fixed plate I32 (Fig. 11). Thus, be-

sides being aligned the slides 21 are firmly clamped when the machine is in condition for operation.

When the lever I09 is in the position shown in Fig. 11 the contacts I2 are, of'course, opened so that when the lever I09 is rocked to unlock the punch slides the machine cannot be operated;

. the pivot pin I63 butstill Piercing, notching, and scoring mechanism This section of the machine now to be described is adapted to work on the strip so as to pierce a hole I35 (Fig. 14), by means of which a string may be tied to tie the tag to the metchandise, to cut anotch I36, and to make a scoring line I31. This mechanism is generally indicated by the reference numeral I38 and is best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 8.

By means of pilot studs I39 an operating plate I40 is slidably mounted. The latter carries a punch pin [M which pierces the hole I35 in the strip and a scoring tool I42. The plate I40 also carries a punching tool I43 (Fig. 8) cooperating with a die bar I44 to cut the corner of the tag diagonally to notch the same.

To the plate I40 (Fig. 8) there is attached a bracket I45 to which is pivoted by a stud I46 a pair of arms I41 loosely mounted on the rod 39. By means of a rod I48 carried by the arms I41 2. block I49 carrying a screw I50 is mounted. The latter is screwed into a link I5I and said link is pivoted to a pair of arms I52 by means of a stud I53. The arms I52 carry a roller I54 cooperating'with complementary cams I55, I56 carried by shafts I1 and 20-, respectively.

The cams I55, during the part of the machine cycle in which no feeding or offset of the strip takes place, and operate on one portion of the strip during the time the punching and the first printing are effected on another portion of the strip.

It is pointed out that a receptacle I58 receives the chips made by the punching pins 3I of the punch slides, the piercing pin MI, and the tool I43.

Pilot pin aligner I A pilot pin is adapted to enter the hole I35 of the strip to hold the paper strip at this point and its construction will now be described.

This comprises a circular pilot pin I60 (Fig. 3) which has a flattened portion I6I fitting in a slot in a pilot pin holder I62 and the portion I6I is I56 operate this mechanism pivoted by a pin I63 to the holder I62 so that as the strip is off-set the pilot pin I60 rocks about in engagement with a hole I 35 of the strip.

Attached to a rock shaft I64 is an arm I65 to which is pivoted by a pin I66 the holder I62. To the shaft I64 there is secured an arm I61 hearing against the periphery of a circular hub I66, a spring I69 secured to the arm I65 effecting this relationship and thus holding the pilot pin I60 in the position shown. The pilot pin I60 holds the strip while it is being punched by the punching sections 26 and I 39.

Strip f eding and eleetro printing mechanism This mechanism designated generally by numeral I 64 is operated by the shaft I1 and as best shown in Fig. 3 attached to the shaft I1 is a worm wheel I10 meshing with a worm gear "I secured to a drive shaft I12. To the shaft I 12 there is secured a gear I13 meshing with agear I14 attached to a shaft I15. The shaft'carrles a rubber platen roller I16 and the gear I14 also meshes with a gear I 11 attached to a shaft I16. To th shaft I10 there is secured an ele tro bearing element I 19 carrying at its periphery a electro plate I having type which are adapted to print the two lines I6I of printed data of the'merchandise tag, (see Fig. 14).

The electro plate I00 is inked by a; pair'of ink saturated spring-urged inking rollers I83 of a form and construction well known in the art.

As the drive shaft I 18 rotates a cam portion I82 attached to the gear I11 will engage the arm I61 and rock the shaft I60 to draw the pilot pin I60 out of cooperation with the hole in the strip 22. Thereafter the electro plate I80 will cooperate with the platen roller I16 and thus feed the strip 22 to the extent of more than the length of the tag, and at the same time effect printing on the strip.

Before the electro plate I80 terminates the feeding of the strip the cam portion I82 will leave the arm I61 permitting spring I69 to draw the pilot pin I60 downwardly to enter the next hole I35 of the strip as the latter is being fed. As the feeding operation continues the pilot pin I60 now engaging the next hole I35 and holder I62 will be rocked about the pivot I66. against the action of a spring I84 tensioning the latter. When the strip feed has been terminated by the electro plate I80 the spring I84 is now effective to reversely shift the strip until the lower edge of the pilot pin strikes an edge I85 (Fig. 13) of a notch of an adjustable plate I86.

During the initial feed by the electro plate I80 the engagement of the strip between the rubber block 80 (Fig. 3) and cross piece 18 is effected so as to cause the frame comprising side arms 16, 11

I and cross piece 80 to be rocked slightly about the rod 14 againstthe action of a spring 66 secured to the frame until the frame strikes a fixed stop. The further feeding of the paper strip pulls the paper strip between the block 80 and cross piece 18. When the pilot pin I60 is effective to retract the paper strip the spring 66 also retracts the paper strip at the portion engaged by the rubber block 80 and cross piece 18, thus keeping the paper taut between the clamp and pilot pin.

It will be seen, therefore, that the strip is fed beyond the length of a tag and then reversely shifted at two points and by this means it is ensured that each tag will be of the same dimension.

The plate I86 (Fig. 13) is adjustable by means of inclined slots I86a cooperating with clamping screws I81 so as to cause the edge I85 to be varied in its position as a stop for the pin I60, and thus predetermine the lengths of the tags.

A spring I88 (Fig. 13). connected to the pilot pin reversely shifts the pilot pin I60 when the paper is returned after the off-set of the paper strip, as previously explained. An edge I88a of a fixed plate I88b functions as a stop in this operation.

When the strip has been fed a suflicient extent it is severed by a severing mechanism now to be described.

severing mechanism Clamping strip before severing operation As best shown in Fig. 12 a plate I96 is slidably guided by pins I91 and the latter fixedly hold a plate I98 and between the plate I98 and plate I96 springs I99 are interposed so as to press the plate I96 downwardly, this being prevented by a pin 200 engaging the top of the knife blade I90. When the latter is rocked the springs I99 are now active to depress plate I96 and as will be clear from Fig. 3 clamp the strip 22 against the fixed knife blade I9I, before the severing operation.

General summary of operation It is pointed out that the severing and clamping operations are effected on a portion of the strip during the first half of the cycle which is the time the first printing and punching is being effected on another portion of the strip and also during the time another portion of the strip is being pierced, scored and notched. Thereafter the clamp shown in Fig. 3 is released, and the strip is offset. A second print by the slides 21 is now effected, the strip then being reversely shifted. Thereafter the pilot pin I60 is lifted out of engagement with the cooperating hole in the strip and the electro plate and feeding rollers are operated 0 feed the strip. The pilot pin I60 and clamp then reversely retract the paper strip. At the next cycle of machine operation the above operations are repeated.

Means for pre-determining number of tags to be made This mechanism is best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and as seen in Fig. 9 secured to the constantly rotating shaft I12 is a worm wheel 2I5 engaging a worm gear 2I6'and to the latter is secured a pinion 2I1 meshing with a gear 2I8. The latter carries by screws 2I9 a disk 220, the latter having an integral upstanding stud 22I Acontrol disk 222 and a knob 223 are fixed together and in a recess of the knob 223 a spring 224 is inserted encircling the stud 22I and hearing against a washer 225 carried by the stud 22L The washer 225 is prevented from being urged upwardly by a key pin 226, and thus the spring 224 urges the disk 222 against the disk 220 by an intermediate friction disk 2 inserted therebetween.

Thus disks 220 and 222 frictionally rotate to gether and are driven by the shaft I12 through the worm wheel 2I5, worm gear 2I6, pinion 2". and gear 2 I8.

The switch II which is of the usual toggle type switch has mounted over its operating lever a slide 221 and thelatter carries an extension 228 which rests upon a flange 229 of the disk 222.

The knob 223 permits the rotation of the control disk to bring the indicia on the flange 229,

indicating the number of tags wanted, in cooperation with the extension 228. Thereafter, as the machine is operated the disk 222 is rotated and at-the time the pre-determined number of tags are manufactured a slot 230 of the disk 222 will be in alignment with the extension 228. A spring 23I connected to the slide 221 will now be active to quickly draw the slide 221 downwardly, rocking the switch lever to open the motor circuit so as to automatically stop the machine.

Pamr roll unwinding device It is desirable to unwind the paper strip from the .roll and not depend entirely upon the feeding mechanism previously described to draw the paper strip directly from the heavy roll. This is effected by the following described means:

To the shaft I12 there is secured a sprocket wheel 250 (Fig 1) which drives a sprocket wheel 25I through a chain 252. To the sprocket wheel 25| there is attached a sprocket wheel 253 driving a sprocket wheel 254 by a chain 255.

The sprocket wheel 254 is secured to a shaft 265 and said shaft carries rubber rollers 256 normally in contact with'the periphery of the paper roll 2|.

Theshaft 251' which carries the sprocket wheel 25| is carried by a fixed bracket 258 and pivoted on the shaft 251 is an arm 259 which carries the shaft 265. A weight W1 (Fig. 1) is attached to the arm 259 to place the parts off balance and its weight is so selected as to have the rollers 256 press on the roll 2| with sufficient pressure so that as the rollers 256 are rotated the roll 2| is rotated to unwind the strip 22 therefrom.

By means of a bracket 260 a depending plate 26| is carried thereby and said plate carries a pivot for a wheel 262 around which the strip passes.

Two plates 266and 261 are connected together by screws 268 to act as one piece and both are pivoted by a fixed stud 269. The plate 261 carries a weight W2 and the plate 266 pivotally carries a wheel 210 around which the strip 22 passes. The parts are so balanced by the weight We so that when a slack is effected in the part of the paper strip 22 between the entrance in the machine and the wheel 262 the wheel 210 will drop and rock about the pivot 269 to effect afunction now to be described.

As the slack increases the wheel 218 drops so that a link 2 secured to the plate 266 by-a bracket 212 will depress the link 2'. The link 2" is connected to one end of an arm 213 attached to the rock shaft 214 which is also carried by the bracket 258.

The rock shaft 214 carries an element having a lifting finger 215. A shaft 216 is also carried by the bracket 258 but the hole 211 (Fig. 16) in one side plate of the bracket is slightly larger than the shaft 216 so that the finger piece 215 elevates one end of the shaft and forces a wedgeshaped end of an arm 218 carried by the shaft 216 in a grooved pulley 219 which is attached to the continually rotating shaft 251.

As the arm 218 is wedged in the pulley groove the rotation, of the pulley 219 causes the arm 215 to be rocked slightly clockwise (Fig 17) and, therefore, the shaft 216. j

Attached to the shaft 216 is an arm 280 to which is connected a link 28| and said link 28| is pivoted to an arm 282. The arm 282 is connected to a lifting arm 284 (Figs. 1 and 15) by means of a sleeve 283, and the sleeve 283 is carried by a stud 285 which is carried by the arm 259. The lifting arm 284 when it is so rocked engages the roll 2| and'elevates the arm 259 at its free end so as to prevent the contact of the rollers 256 with the roll 2| while said rollers 256 are rotating and thus prevent more unwinding of the roll /'2|. The slack is now taken up by one or more operations of the machine so that link 21| is again raised and the lifting finger 215 depressed permitting the shaft 216 to drop bringing the finger piece 215 below the pulley 219 and returning it to normal by the dropping of the free end of arm 259. As

ating means for operating said punch pins to perforate a portion of the strip to represent data related to the merchandise, means operated by said operating means for effecting a printing impression from the type to thereby print on an adjacent portion of the strip the meaning of the perforations, means for feeding the strip through the machine lengthwise as the strip runs to a more or less variable length, a

resiliently operated means engaging said strip during said .feeding operation, said resiliently operated gauging means reversely feeding said strip to a predetermined stop position of the resiliently operated means thereby exactly gauging the length of the tag, and means operated by said operating means to sever the strip to provide a tag section having the length previously gauged.

A machine for forming from a continuous strip tags to be affixed to merchandise comprising, a main operating means, a plurality of settable members carrying punches which are set to predetermined positions so as to perforate said strip to represent data related to the merchandise, a plurality of type carried by said member for printing upon said strip data representing the meaning of the perforations, a strip feeding mechanism comprising feeding rollers driven by said operating means for feeding a predetermined length of said strip, means operated by said operating means for operating said punches to perforate said strip, means comprisinga hammer operated by said operating means for causing said type to print upon a portion of the strip adjacent'said perforated portion, a =1 strip oifsetting means operated by said operat ing means for shifting said strip in a direction transverse of said feeding direction, means operated by said operating mechanism for again operating said hammer toeffect a second printing impression upon said strip after the first printing operation, a strip scoring means, a strip severing means, means operated by said operating means for causing said scoring means to score the strip between the successive imprints, and means operated by said operating means for operating said strip severing means to sever said strip in sections of predetermined length to form separate tags.

3. A machine for forming from a continuous strip separate tags to be aifixed to merchandise comprising a main operating means, a punching mechanism for perforating said strip to represent data related to said merchandise and operating means operated by the aforesaid main operating means for causing the actuation of said' punching mechanism, a printing mechanism for printing data on said strip at two portions thereof to representthe meaning of the portions, means operated by said operating means for repeatedly operating said printing mechanism, an offsetting means for transversely shifting said strip so as to provide for printing upon said strip at separate portions thereof, a resiliently operated means, a feed ng means for feeding said strip a more or less variable amount, means for causing said resiliently operated means to engage said'strip prior to completion of the feeding operation of said strip whereby said resiliently operating means reversely feeds said strip to a predetermined stop position when the feeding operation -of the strip is terminated, and means for thereaftersevering said strip to provide a tag portion of the predetermined length.

4. A machine for forming tags from a continuous strip and which tags are to be affixed to merchandise comprising a punching mechanism including pre-set members for perforating said strip to represent data related to the merchandise, .a printing mechanism for printing upon said strip the meaning of the perforations, an offsetting means for offsetting said strip transversely, means for repeatedly operatto thereby exactly gauge the length of strip feed, and a severing means for severing the strip into portions corresponding to the gauged lengths whereby successively formed tags are of exact lengths.

5. A machine for forming merchandise representing tags adapted to be fixed to merchandise and formed from a continuous strip comprising, a punching mechanism including pre-set punch pin' selecting members for predetermining the location of perforations to be effected by said pins upon said strip to represent data related to the merchandise, a severing means for said strip, a gripper including a resiliently operated member for gripping said strip, a feeding means for feeding said strip against the action of said gripping means a more or less variable amount for successive tag forming operations,-

means for piercing said strip with holes whereby each tag is provided with a hole, a resiliently urged pilot pin, means for causing said pilot pin to engage one of said pierced holes prior to the termination of said strip feeding operation, resilient means for reversely moving said pilot pin when said strip is released by said feeding means and operating conjointly with the aforesaid resiliently operated gripping means to reversely feed the strip, an adjustable stop cooperating with said pilot pin for predetermin ing the stop positions of said pilot pin in its reverse movement and said strip to provide a predetermined length of strip which is fed, and a severing means for severing said strip to eifect said predetermined lengths whereby said successively formed tags arelformed of the same length. l

6. A machine for forming from a continuous strip separate tags to be aflixed to merchandise comprising a main operating means, a plurality of punch carrying members, said members also carrying printing type, means operated by said operating means for operating said punch pins to perforate a portion of the strip to represent data related to the merchandise, means operated by said operating means for piercing said strip with holes, means for feeding said strip in the direction of its length after-said punching opera- -tion and to an extent varying more or less with each feeding operation;a pilot pin, means operated by said operating means for causing said pilot pin to engage one of said holes, resilient means for reversely feeding the strip when said strip is released by said feeding means to a predetermined stop position, and means for severing the perforated sections of said strip to provide separate tags each of which is of a predetermined and exact length.

7. A machine for forming from a continuous strip separate tags to be affixed to merchandise comprising, a punching mechanism for punching said strip to represent by perforations therein data related to the merchandise, a printing mechanism including pre-sel-ected type for printing upon said strip data indicating the meaning of the perforations, means for feeding said strip to a length equivalent to the length of the tag, means for repeatedly operating said printing mechanism, an ofi'setting means for offsetting said strip transverse of the direction of the aforesaid feeding movement for causing the second imprint to be effected upon a portion of the strip adjacent to the portion in which the first imprint has been effected a scoring means for scoring the strip between said printed portions, and a strip severing means for severing said continuous strip into lengths correspondingto the length of the tag sections.

8. A machine for forming tags from a continuous strip comprising a punching mechanism for perforating said strip to represent data related to merchandise, a printing mechanism for printing said strip with data representing the meaning of said perforations, means for repeatedly operating said printing mechanism,.

means for offsetting said strip transversely of its length to cause said second imprint to be effected upon a portion of the strip adjacent to the portion receiving the first imprint, a scoring means for scoring the strip between said printed portions, a hole piercing means, means for feeding said strip to a length varying more orless for each of the feeding operations, a pilot pin, means for causing said pilot pin to engage one of said holes whereby said pilot pin is moved bythe feeding mlovement of said strip, a resiliently operating gripper means located in said machine to engage a portion of said strip at a position separated from said pilot pin, said feeding means also being adapted to cause the feeding movement of said strip through said gripping means while the latter frictionally grips said strip, separate resilient means connected to the aforesaid gripping means and said pilot pin for reversely moving said pilot pin and gripping means to reversely feed said paper strip to a predetermined stop position of said pilot pin, and means for severing said strip into tag sections which are of lengths predetermined by the stop position of said pilot pin. I

9.111 a punching machine, in combination, a plurality of differentially positionable punch pin carrying bars, each provided with a closed slot receiving a card to be punched and each carrying opposite the slot. 2. single punch pin and cooperating die aperture,-said bars being adiacently mounted but being freely positionable,

to an operation of said last named means to tionable manually, manually operated means for clamping said bars together prior to an operation of the machine, and means operative in response to the operation of the manually operated clamping means to clamp said bars to I disable said preventing means to enable the operation of the machine.

FREDERICK L. FULLER.- 

